Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s promise that the Jos killings would not be repeated, pointing to fresh attacks across multiple states less than 24 hours after the president made the pledge.
Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on his official X handle on Monday, April 6, detailing a series of deadly attacks that occurred in Plateau, Nasarawa, Zamfura, Borno, Benue, and Kaduna states within days of Tinubu’s April 2 visit to Jos.
“Less than 24 hours after President Tinubu stood at the Jos Plateau State airport on April 2, 2026, and promised the grieving Nigerian citizens, ‘I promise you that this experience will not repeat itself,’ another brutal attack occurred in Nyamgo Gyel, Jos South LGA, resulting in the deaths of several innocent citizens,” Obi wrote.
He went on to highlight a series of attacks across multiple states, pointing to what he described as a worsening national security crisis.
“Since then, and only a week following that reassuring promise from the President, Nasarawa State has been plunged into grief as the Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities fled for their lives after gunmen killed at least 11 people. Many homes were reduced to ashes, and numerous families remain missing,” Obi said.
“In Zamfara State, 150 innocent Nigerians were abducted from the Kurfa Danya and Kurfan Magaji communities in one of the largest mass kidnappings in recent times. On the same day of the Zamfara kidnappings, terrorists in Borno State stormed Chibok, killing four officers and burning down homes,” he stated.
Obi also referenced the latest wave of violence during the Easter period.
“Yesterday, on Easter Sunday, Benue State was rocked by violence again, with over 17 Nigerians massacred, entire communities left in ruins, and many individuals still unaccounted for.
“Today, in Kaduna State, several innocent citizens were killed by terrorists inside churches, with many others abducted in the Ariko community of Kachia LGA,” he said.
Questioning the government’s capacity to ensure safety, Obi said the situation reflects deeper governance failures.
“Yet we were told, ‘This experience will not repeat itself.’ This represents a failure of leadership and responsibility, and sadly, Nigerians are paying for it with their lives,” Obi said.
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He questioned how the president could make such a promise only for more killings to follow within hours.
“These attackers are not ghostly figures; our inaction emboldens them. How can a President make such a categorical promise and, mere hours later, the nation continues to count the dead across multiple states?
“The primary responsibility of any government is to protect lives and property; however, this responsibility is failing today. Nigerians are being slaughtered in their homes, in their communities, and in the very places they should feel safest.
“Even the President did not enter these communities, so who is truly safe in Nigeria?” he asked.
Obi warned that the country is facing a severe crisis that requires urgent action.
“This is a national emergency. Nigeria is bleeding, and the situation is worsening and increasingly helpless. A New Nigeria is POssible,” he concluded.
President Tinubu had visited Plateau State on Thursday, April 2, following the Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, which claimed over 27 lives.
During the visit, he ordered the deployment of 5,000 AI-powered surveillance cameras and 850 additional troops to the state and promised that such attacks would not happen again.
However, fresh attacks occurred across multiple states shortly after his departure, undermining the assurance he had given to victims and residents.